Record sorting machine



July 8, 1952 B. E. PHELPS EIAL RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1945 k iktkw wwkw uww INVENTORS .B..PHELP$ .HOOD

ATTORNEY July 8, 1952 B. E. PHELPS ETAL RECORD SORTING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8, 1952 B. E. PHELPS EIAL RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 50, 1945 J. D. H00 D ATTbRNEY INVENTORS B E. PHELPS MN h Q No my MS 33 YEN 3 3 3.3

July 8, 1952 B. E. PHELPS ETAL 2,602,544

RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 30, 1945 July 8, 1952 a. E. PHELPS ETAL RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 30, 1945 B. E. PHELPS EI'AL 2,602,544

RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 July 8, 1952 Filed June 30, 1945 y 3, 1952 B. E. PHELPS ETAL RECORD SORTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 30, 1945 Eatented July 8 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORD SORTING MACHINE Application June 30, 1945, Serial No. 602,494

13 Claims.

This invention relates to record card distributing or collating machines of the kind disclosed in Patent No. 2,359,670.

In said patent is disclosed a collator operating on cards bearing numerical information. A principal object of the present invention is to provide novel means for operating a collator or the like not only according to numerical information on cards but also according to alphabetic information or alphabetic-numeric information on the cards.

Alphabetic characters are designated by combinatlonal pairs of marks in a column of the record card. Such marks are perforations in the present case and are located selectively in index positions of the columns of the cards. The numbers O-to 9 are designated by single perforations in corresponding index positions of the columns, only one perforation being made in one column.

The index positions 1- to 9 are known as the ent case. In brief, the perforations, except for the Xperforation in this case, have an alternative 'codal significance depending on whether they occur in combination or singly. Further, in the present case, a blank column also has a value'significance since it may represent, for instance, a letter spacing function. It is required in the collator to compare the information on a pair of cards. One dimculty is that the comparison must take into account not only the positional significance of a perforation but whether it'occurs in combination or alone. A corollary difficulty arises from the fact that a mark has one value in a scale when it occurs alone and shares in defining a different value in the scale when itv occurs in combination. Further difliculties arise from the use of a blank column as a value in the scale and from the use of the -'and'R perforations as elements of the code.

Stated broadly, an object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned difficulties so that the comparison result may be consistent with a prescribed scale of values of characters composing thel alphabetic, numeric, or alphabetic-numeric information designated on the cards.

More specifically, an object is to collate records according to the relative magnitude, within a prescribed scale of values, of alphabetic or alphabetic-numeric or numeric data derived from records to be collated.

An object is to provide means supplementing the comparing means to produce a comparison result consistent with the prescribed scale.

An object is to provide means controlled by special designations derived from the record cards for supplementing means controlled by any of the designations derived from the record cards in comparing the data represented by the designations.

More specifically, the special designations are the blank column, 0 and R designations, whence an object of the invention may be stated to reside in the provision of blank and 0, R correction means for assisting in the comparison of combinational codal data in accordance with a prescribed scale of values. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity and simplicity, such correction means will be referred to as the blank and zero correction means.

It is also an object of the invention to arrange electronic means in various circuits, including the comparison circuits, for promoting the speed and facility of operation of the machine.

In comparing data derived from denomina tionally related card columns, it is required that the relation of the values in the higher denominations dominate the relation of values in the lower orders. Comparison circuits, each for a different denomination, are therefore connected in tandem to control comparison result means. However, if any of the higher order circuits finds that one value is greater than the other, then current is led directly from this circuit to the result means, by-passing the succeeding circuits. It is seen then that the number of comparison circuits through which the current may flow to the result means is variable. Since the circuits have electrical resistance, it follows that the resistance for impeding the flow of current to the result means may vary. Consequently, the result means, usually relay windings, may have a variable response. Previously, this fact has limited the number of denominational circuits which may be provided in the comparing circuit. In other words, the number of denominationally related columns to be compared have been limaeoasee ited by the minimum factor of response of the result relays.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the number of denominationally related columns to be compared may be increased by providing electronic means having a grid electrode for receiving the output of the comparing circuit network. Such electronic means responds sensitively to changes in poten tial on the grid and are substantially independent of variations in current flowing in the output of the comparing network.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel electronic circuit means for operating value storing means under control of combinational codal data designations on records.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applyin that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the collator machine.

Fig. 2 is a substantially diagrammatic view of the drive elements in the collator machine.

Figs. 3a, 8b, 3c, 3d, 36, and 3 are circuit diagrams of the machine.

Fig. 3c is a circuit diagram showing a modification of the card-controlled value storing circuits, using gas-filled electron tubes.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the record card punched to indicate the code.

Fig. 5 is a timing chart.

1. The cards, the code, and value relation The cards are of a common type used in tabulating machines and related apparatus. They may be punched with alphabetic or numeric data or both. Fig. 4 shows a card punched with all the possible characters required to be designated in the particular combinational code employed here. A card column has twelve index or perforation positions 9, 8, 7 1, 0, X, and R. A single .1

perforation in a column in position R designates the dash symbol. A single perforation in a column in one of the positions to 9 represents the corresponding number 0 to 9. A perforation in position R, combined with a perforation in one of the positions 1 to 9 represents one of the letters A to I. An X hole combined with one of the perforations in positions 1 to 9 represents one of the letters J to R. A 0 hole combined with a perforation in one of the positions 2 to 9 represents one of the letters S to Z.

All the symbols have a prescribed order of magnitude within a chosen scale of values. The ascending order of magnitude is as follows:

Blank column (which may denote a space).

The--symbol (R perforation). Letters A to Numbers 0 to 9.

An example of cards collated by the present machine in proper order is given below:

AAFGZMS AAF628432 AAG17951 EX38141-13 EX381417 1001D3-1750i) 1001D- 680 1035D3 It is to be understood that the cards are placed in hoppers PH and SH (Fig. 1) face down and with the 9 index position leading; i. e., nearest the exit or throat of a hopper.

The index positions 0, X, and B may be called the zone positions, and the index positions 1 to 9 may be called the intrasone positions. It is im portant to note that a perforation in the 0 position when unaccompanied by another perforation in the same column is representative of the cipher, but when accompanied by a perforation in one of the positions 2 to 9 is part of a letter representation. Also, the R hole, alone, represents a dash, but together with an intrazone hole it is representative of a letter. In other words, the R and 0 holes as well as the intrazone holes vary in significance depending on whether they occur singly or in combination.

2. The mechanical structure Figs. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show the mechanical structure of the machine. Cards placed in primary hopper PH are designated PC and called primary cards. Cards in secondary hopper SH are designated SC and referred to as secondary cards. Pickers I25 are adapted to feed cards out of the hoppers. The pickers have rack teeth meshed with gear segments 126 which are oscillated'by box cams IE4 rigid with gears I65P and ISBS. Gear I65P, in the primary side, is driven through an idler itUP by a gear I'IIP on a shaft I721. Gear ItiiS, in the secondary side, is driven directly by a gear IIIS on a shaft I'IZS. Shaft I721 and two similar shafts I'IZaP in the primary side are feed roller shafts. These shafts and two contact roll shafts I83Q and I83P in the primary side are driven through spiral gear pairs I14 and I by the primary shaft I4I. Shafts IIZS and Il'EaS in the secondary side are feed roll shafts, and these and a contact roll shaft I83S in the secondary side are driven by similar spiral gear pairs I'M and I75 from the secondary shaft I39. Shaft I39 may be clutched to continuously rotating main shaft I36 by a one-revolution clutch 45 brought into action by clutch magnet SFM. Similarly, primary shaft MI is clutchable by a one-revolution clutch I45 to a bevel gear I44, upon energization of clutch magnet PFM. Bevel gear I 3.4 is meshed with a bevel gear I43 on main shaft Contact roll shaft I83Q, in the primary side, carries contact roll QC coacting with sensing brushes QB to sense primary cards passing through the Sequence station. The contact roll shaft I831, in the primary side, carries contact roll PC coacting with sensing brushes PB to sense primary cards traversing the Primary station. The shaft I 83S, in thesecondary side, carries a contact roll SC to coact with brushes SB to sense secondary cards as they traverse the Secondary station. a

With primary shaft MI in operation, the related picker I25 will feed a card from the hopper Pl-I. The card will be fed further by the feed rollers in the primary side to eject rolls 206 and 261. With secondary shaft I39 in operation, a card will be fed from the hopper SH by the related picker I25 and thence by the feed rollers to the eject rolls 208 and 209. The eject roll 208 and 289 are driven by the secondary shaft I39 through a train of gears 2I3, 2I4, 2I5, and 2I6, of which gear 2I3 is secured to secondary contact roll shaft I83S and gear 2I6 to shaft 2II of eject roll 208. The primary eject rolls 206 and 201 are driven bythe main shaft I36 through means including a one-revolution clutch ECL which is effective upon energization of eject clutch magnet EM. The driver element of the clutch carries a gear 223 meshed with a gear 222 on a shaft 220 which is driven through a spiral gear pair I14 and I by the main shaft I36. The driven element of the clutch carries a gear 225 meshed with a gear 226 on shaft 2I0 of eject roll 206.

.Shaft 220 and three more, similarly driven shafts I42 carry feed rollers for coacting with feed rollers on companion shafts to feed the cards issuing from the eject rolls to a selected card pocket. There are four pockets to which the cards may be selectively distributed. The pockets are designated I, 2, 3, and 4. There are three guide blades 306, 301, and 308 for directing cards to selected pockets. Blade 308 rests at the rear upon the toe of a lever 30I associated with a magnet PRM. With this magnet inactive, cards issuing from primary eject rolls 200 and 201 pass over the blade 308 into pocket 2. Upon energization of magnet PRM, it unhooks the related lever 30I allowing it to be moved upwardly by a spring 304 and thereby to lift the rear end of blade 308. A card issuing from eject rolls 200 and 201 will then pass under blade 808 into pocket I. As disclosed in application Ser. No. 347,226, now Patent No. 2,379,828, the rear ends of blades 306 and 301 are transversely spaced apart. The rear end of top blade 306 extends under the toe of a lever 30I associated with a magnet SRMI, while the rear end of blade 301 extends under the toe of a similar lever (not shown) associated with a similar magnet SRM2 (shown only in the circuit diagram, Fig. 3f). With both magnets SRMI and SRMZ deenergized, cards issuing from eject rolls 208 and 209 feed under blade 30'! into pocket 2. With magnet SRM2 energized, blade 301 is depressed at the rear end to allow cards issuing from eject rolls 208 and 209 to pass over this blade and under blade 306 into the pocket 3. When magnet SRMI is energized, it unhooks the lever 30I associated therewith and also the similar lever (not shown) associated with magnet SRM2, al-

lowing attached springs 304 to rock these levers counterclockwise. Consequently, blades 306 and 301 are both depressed, and a card issuing from eject rolls 208 and 209 will pass over both blades into the pocket 4.

There are various card lever contacts, hopper contacts, cam contacts, etc. shown in the circuit diagrams (Figs. 3a to Sc). Briefly, as long as cards are in hoppers PH and SH (Fig. 1), hopper contacts PHC and SHC (Fig. 3b) are held open and magnets RI, R2, R3 and R4 remain unenergized. During a first cycle of the primary shaft I4I, a first card will feed out of hopper PH to a position past the second pair of feed rolls in the primary side and behind the Sequence station. In advancing to this position, the card rocks a lever 214 (Fig. l) to close contacts PCL (Fig. 3 During a second cycle of shaft I4I, the second card feeds from the hopper PH, while the first card is advanced through the Sequence station. During this advance, the first card rocks a lever 280 (Fig. 1) to close contacts PCLI (Fig. 3b). During a third cycle of shaft I4I, the first card is advanced through the Primary station to the eject rolls 200 and 201. In its advance through this station, the card operates a second lever 280 to close contacts PCL2 (Fig. 3b). Continuation of the feed of the card from the eject station to a selected card pocket I or 2 will depend on the energization of eject magnet Eli/i.

During a cycle of secondary shaft I38 (Fig. 2), a card is fed from the hopper SH (Fig. 1) to a position behind the Secondary station, meanwhile operating a lever 214, in the secondary feed line, to close contacts SCL (Fig. 3 During a following cycle of shaft I39, the card will be fed through this sensing station to the eject rolls 208 and 209, meanwhile operating card lever 280, in the secondary side, to close contacts SCLI (Fig. 3b). During a third cycle of shaft I39, the card will be fed to a selected card pocket 2, 3, or 4.

As usual the sensing brushes are wired to plug sockets. Referring to Fig. 3a, the sockets wired to brushes SB are designated SJ and these may be plugged to chosen sockets SJJ which lead to elements of the controlled devices. The sockets wired to brushes PB are designated PJ and these may be plugged to chosen sockets PRJ and PPJ. Finally, the sockets QJ are wired to brushes QB and may be plugged to sockets QJJ. The pluggable connections are provided to allow for any chosen fields of card columns to be ultimately compared.

Various cam contacts shown in the circuit diagrams are of three classes. One class comprises continuously operating cam contacts including those given the general designation CR (see Fig. 5) and, also, the circuit breaker contacts, the CBs (see also Fig. 3a). A second class includes contacts operated only when the primary shaft MI is running, and cam contacts in this class have the general designation P. The third class includes contacts operating only when the secondary shaft I39 is running, and these cam contacts have the general designation S. Several relays are of the common type having pick-up and hold coils operating on the same armature contacts. The pick-up coil will be identified by Letters P inside the box representing the coil. The hold coil will be identified by a similarly placed letter H.

3. Circuits-general There are two voltage lines, one at D. C. and the other at 40 D. C. supplied from a suitable source. The negative side of the 110 D. C. line and the positive side of the 40 D. C. line are common. The common side is designated C.

Assume power is on the voltage lines, and that cards are present in the primary hopper PH and the secondary hopper SH (Fig. 1). Operation of the machine is initiated by depressing a start key (Fig. 3b). The closure of start key contacts STI establishes the following circuit:

Initiating start key circuit-From the 40 v. side, through coil P(RI'I), normally closed relay contacts RI2BU or B8B and RIAU or R3AU, thence via contacts R2IB, key contacts STI, stop key contacts SK, and cam contacts CR1, to the side C.

Contacts RIIAU close, and together with cam contacts CR6 establish the circuit of coil H(RI'I) and of a parallel relay R50.

Relay contacts RI'I'B (Fig. 3f) close, and the following circuit is then completed.

PF'IWancZ HS3 circuit #1.--From the 40 v. side, through parallel magnets PFM and H83, to a wire wI, thence via contacts R2AL to a wire 102, and via the normal side of RI'ZAU, and via R2B, HS4A, RIIB, and CRI, to side C.

Magnet HS3 closes contacts HS3A, whereby a circuit is closed, as follows:

EM circuit #1.The -40 v. side, through mag- 7 net EM, and contacts'l-lS3A, HS SA, R113, and CRI, to side C. V I

The contacts Ri-IB, when closed, also allowed the following circuit to form:

SFM circuit #1.The 4() v. side, through magnet SFM, the contacts RHA, thence via contacts Rl lBU and RlfiAU to wire wt or via the normal side of contacts RSB to wire-wt, and from there via the contacts RIB-AU, REB, HS lA, RHB, and CR1, to side C.

The clutch magnets PPM and SFM having been energized, primary and secondary cycles ensue. During the primary cycle, a card is fed from hopper PH (Fig. 1) to a position just behind the first primary card lever 28!). During the secondary cycle, a card is fed from hopper SH to a position just behind the secondary card lever 289.

The eject clutch magnet EM also has been energized, whereby eject rolls 2% and 207 are operated, but no card is present at the eject station at this time. Had a card been present, it would have been ejected to a selected oneof the pockets I and 2.

During the primary and secondary cycles, cam contacts P5 and St (Fig. 3d) close. For the type of operations to be performed here, a pair of plu sockets PD are connected by a plugwire and a pair of plug sockets SD are similarly connected. Accordingly, circuits are established as follows through the coils P or clearing relays DI and D23 P(D1) circuit.The i v. side, through coil P of relay DI, the plug connection between sockets PD, and via cam contacts P5, to side C.

P(D2) cifcuit.The 40 v. side, through coil P of relay D2, the plug connection between sockets SD, and via cam contacts S4, to side C.

The hold coils H of relays Di and D2 are then energized via the AU contacts of the respective relays and the cam contacts CR4.

The relays Di and D2 are used to clear storage relay settings, in a manner and for reasons explained later.

The relay R50 (Fig. 3b) is in parallel with coil EUR/ll) and energized at the same time. Contacts R5ila (Fig. 3d) close and establish the following circuit:

Start interlock relays pick-up ci'rcuii.--' he -40 v. side, coils P033) and P(D4) in parallel, and via contacts R5011, to side C.

Coils H(D3) and H(De) are energized via con tacts D iA and cam contacts (IBM. The purpose of these relays D3 and D8 is to prevent initiation of comparing operations, described later, unless the machine is in starting condition.

For the type of operation in which cards in the primary and secondary sides of the machine are to be compared, the feed interlock plug soclcets FI (Fig. 3d) are plugged to each other. The circuit of a feed interlock relay FIR is traced below:

FIR circuit-The --40 v. side, relay FIR, thence either via contacts RBAL, or via contacts RMAL and RiEBL, to the connected sockets FI, and thence through cam contacts CR8 to the side C. 7

Cam contacts CR5 (Fig. 3b) open before the primary and secondary cycles end. Accordingly, coil I-I(R|l) is cleenergized. The second primary and secondary cycles must be initiated in the same way as the first of such cycles. Briefly, coil P of relay RI 1 is energized through start key contacts STI, coil H of RI! is then energized; after which the other circuits, traced before, are established. During the second primary and secthe hoppers PHand SH (Fig. 1), while the first primary and secondary cards are fed through the Sequence and Secondary sensing stations, respectively. The first primary card stops just behind the second primary card lever 280, meanwhile having acted on the first primary card lever 28-3 to close contacts PCL! (Fig. 3b). The first secondary card stops behind the rear ends of the chute blades and 381, meanwhile having acted on the secondary card lever 280 to close contacts SCLi. Circuits accordingly are established, as follows (Fig. 3b)

Coil P(R5) circuit.The '40 v. side, coil P(R5) and contacts SCLi and CR5, to side C.

Coil P(R7) circuit.The i0 v. side, coil P(Rl) and contacts PCLl and CR5, to side C.

The coils H of relays R5 and R? subsequently are energized via the respective contacts REAU and HEAD, and cam contacts CRlE.

During the secondary cycle, cam contacts S2 close and together with contacts R53 (now closed), establish the circuit of parallel coils R8 and R9. Contacts AU of R8 close to hold the circuit after contacts open. Since relay R8 now is energized, it opens contacts REAL (Fig. 3d) breaking one of the parallel circuit paths through relay FIR.

During the primary cycle, cam contacts P2 (Fig. 3b) close and in conjunction with contacts RlAL establish the circuit of parallel coils RM and R15. Contacts BL of R55 close to maintain the circuit in effect after contacts RlAL open. Relay RM opens contacts RMAL (Fig. 3d), whereby the remaining path through relay FIR is opened, and therefore, relay FIR is not energized.

he start key is held down to allow operations to continue. A third primary cycle will occur. But the third secondary cycle will not occur at this time, because relays R3 and RM remain in energized status at the completion of the preceding cycle. Hence, contacts R913 and RMBU (Pig. 3]) are now in shifted condition, so that the SFM circuit #1, previously traced, is unable to make. No other circuit is made at this time through magnet SFM, whereby a secondary cycle does not occur.

During the third primary cycle, a third card PC is fed from hopper PH (Fig. l), the second card PC is fed to the second cycle position, and the first card PC is fed through the Primary sensing station, to the eject rolls 266 and 201. On its way, the first card acts on the second primary card lever 2th to close contacts PCL2, establishing the following circuit (Fig. 3b)

The coil P(R6) circuit.The side C, cam contacts CR5, contacts PCLZZ, and through coil P(RS) to the 40 v. side.

Contacts AU of relay R6 close, whereby the coil PMRS) subsequently is energized upon closure of cam contacts CRlS.

Meanwhile, cam contacts P2 close and together with contacts ReA establish the circuit of parallel relay coils R22 and REE. Contacts R|3AL close to hold the circuit after contacts REA open.

It should be noted that during the third primary cycle, the second card has acted, in the same way as the first card did in the preceding cycle, to bringabout the energization of relays R'l, Rid and RIS.

After the third cycle, relay coil H(Rll) remains energized, under the assumed conditions, and the start key may be released. The circuit for 'coil H(Rll) 'will'b e held through CR6 and ondary cycles, the second cards are fed out of RIIAU, and during the interval in which CR6 9 is open (see Fig. the following alternate circuit will be established (see Fig. 3b)

Coil H (R17)h0ld circuit.The 40 v. side, coil H(Rl1), contacts RIIAL, safety contacts FPC, the normal side of contacts R3AL, the nowshifted side of contacts R9AL, the normal side of contacts RIAL, the now-closed contacts RISBU, the now-shifted contacts RI3BL, the normally closed contacts R353, thence via stop key contacts SK and cam contacts OR! to line side 0.

It will be noted that at this point the relays BIZ and R8 both are in energized status; hence the initiating start key circuit cannot be re-established. Should the coil H(Rl1) hold circuit be broken subsequently, as by temporarily opening the stop key contacts SK, the circuit of coil H(RI|) may be re-established by again depressing the start key. A circuit will thereupon be established through coil H(R|l) which is the same as the coil H(RI1) hold circuit except that it is routed via start key contacts ST2 which shunt contacts RI IAL.

Since contacts B9B, RI3AU, and RMBU now are in operating status, the SFM circuit I, previously traced, is unable to make. Whether an alternative circuit will make through magnet SFM depends on plugging and on card comparisons, which will be explained later.

The relay RI! has been energized durin the third primary cycle, at a time preceding a closure period of cam contacts CRI (compare the timing of CR5, P2, and CRI indicated in Fig. 5). Accordingly, the previous circuit traced through magnets PFM and HS3 cannot make, since contacts RIZAU (Fig. 3 now have been shifted. Whether a new primary cycle shall be performed depends on plugging and card comparisons, all explained later.

Before describing the plugging and the card comparisons, the card sensing circuits and code relays circuits will be explained.

4. CircuitsCode relays and card sensing The data on the cards will be sensed, stored, and compared. Storage relays are used to store the data. To reduce the number of such relays required per card column, a different data storage code is used than the card data code. This data storage requires the use of oniy six storage relays for storing data derived from a card column. A plurality of columns of each primary card may be compared with a plurality of columns of a secondary card. For purposes related to such comparison, a group of six primary storage relays and a group of six secondary storage relays are needed for each pair of primary and secondary card columns to be compared. Similar groups of storage relays are used for each pair of such columns to be compared, so that it is sufiicient to show only one group of six primary storage relays and one group of six secondarystorage relays. Fig. 3a shows the coils P of a group of six primary storage relays and coils P of a group of six secondary storage relays. The relays of the primary group are designated XRP, ORP, 6P, 3P, 2P, and IP. Similar designations are used for the secondary group, with terminal letter S being substituted for terminal letter P. The designations indicate the storage code. Thus, relay XRP is picked up as a result of the sensing of either an X or R hole in a card column of a primary card; relay URP is picked up as a result of the sensing of a 0 or an R hole in the primary card column; and relay 6P, 3P, 2P, or lP'is picked as a result of the sensing in the primary card column of a 6, 3, 2,.

or 1 hole, respectively. Further, a combinational pair of the relays 6P, 3P, EP and I P is picked up in consequence of the sensing of one of the intrazone perforations 9, 8, '7, 5, or 4 in the primary card column. The addition of the numbers attached to the pair of relays thus picked up equals the number of the intrazone hole 9, 8, 7, 5 or 4 which has been sensed. Thus, relays SP and 3Pstore a 9; relays GP and 2P store an 8; relays SP and I? store a 7; relays SP and 2P store a 5; and relays 3P and IP store a i.

Each group or column of coils P of the storage relays is connected to the anode of an electronic tube of the 25L6 type. In a manner described later, the tube is rendered conductive upon the sensing of any hole in a chosen card column. Un-

less provision were made to the contrary, all the coils of the group would be energized upon the sensing of any hole. But it is necessary to energize the coils of the group selectively; that is, to energize each storage relay only when a hole is sensed which represents a value to be stored by the storage relay or when a hole is sensed which is part of the combinational representation of a value and which part is to be stored in the storage relay. For example, coil P( IS) or vP( IP) is to be energized only when a 7, 4 or 1 hole is sensed, and not when any other hole is sensed, in the associated card column. To provide for selective energization of'coils P of the storage relays, they are individually connected to the v. side by relay contacts which are closed only at the desired sensing times at which the coils are to be energized if pertinent perforations are sensed. Thus, coils P(IS) and PUP) are connected to the +110 v. side by relay contacts Mia and lb, respectively. These relay contacts are closed only at the 7, 4, and 1 sensing times (see Fig. 5). Similarly, the other coils P of the storage relays are connected to conditioning relay contacts. In short, to provide for selective pick up of the storage relays, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3a, code conditioning or impulse relays are employed. The code impulse relays are shown in Fig. 30, where they are designated 14!, 852, 9543, 98'i6, DR, and XR. These particular reference designations are used in order to denote the sensing times at which they are energized. Thus, relay XR is energized at both the X and R sensing times, relay MI is energized at the 7, 4, and 1 sensing times, and so on. It'

may be mentioned that in actual practice, a plurality of code impulse relays and return circuits therefor are arranged in parallel because of the substantial number of relay points to be operated by them. But in order to simplify the drawings, only six different ones of the code impulse relays are shown.

The code impulse or conditioning relays are in the plate circuits of vacuum tubes which are of the 25L6 type. Energization of a relay cannot be effected until the connected tube is rendered conductive, and until relay D3 has been energized to close contacts D3BU. The circuits of relay D3 have been energized to close contacts D3BU. The circuits of relay D3 have been traced before and, it is clear that relay D3 (Fig. 3d) is energized whenever starting conditions have been attained; i. e., when relay R50 (Fig. 31)) along with start relay coil H(R|1), is energized.

The 25L6 tube circuit in genemZ.-These tubes are used not only in the circuits of the code conditioning relays but in various other circuits.

Each such tube operates in the same fashion and the connections of-its electrodes-to the voltage and control lines are similar. Hence, an explanation of the manner of operation of one such tube, say V58 (Fig. will suffice for all the tubes.

The anode A of the tube is connected through a work circuit to the side of the 110 v. line. The screen grid G2 of the tube is kept at constant, required potential by a connection to the +110 v. side through a resistor r2. The control grid Gl'is connected to the v. side through a resistor rl The operating or pulsing circuit for the control grid starts at the +110 v. side and extends through required switching means and a current limiting resistor T3 to the control grid. The cathode K is connected to the common side C of the voltage lines. The cathodes are indirectly heated. Proper filament voltage is supplied in a manner which need not be shown. A condenserCl is across the cathode and anode. Suitable values of the resistors and the condenser are given in Fig. 30.

It is seen that with the connections described above, the tube is normally at cut-oil; i. there is virtually no current flow in the tube, by reason of the control grid being at a potential which is considerably negative with respect to cathode potential. To render the tube conductive, positive potential will be applied to the control grid from the +110 v. side through timed switching means, comprising cam contacts CR2 i, CR22, CR23, CR, CR25, and CR26. adequate to reduce the negative bias of the tube to substantially zero. Maximum current will then flow through the tube and energize the work relay in the plate circuit.

The code conditioning relay circniis.-During each machine cycle, the cam contacts CR2 1, CRZZ, CR23, CR24, CR25, and CR26 (Fig. 30) close at the sensing times indicated by the designations of the related code conditioning relays (see also the timing chart, Fig. 5). Upon closure of one of these cam contacts, the control grid of a related one of the tubes is brought to substantially zero bias, whereby the tube becomes conductive. For

example, cam contacts CR2! close at the 7, 4,

and l sensing times, so that the tube V58 becomes temporarily conductive at each of these times. When the tube is conductive, the relay MI is energized by a circuit extending from the +110 v. side, via the now-closed contacts DBBU and through relay l4! and tube V58 to the common side C. Relay Ml closes contacts Mia and Will) (Fig. 3a) to condition coils P(IS) and PUP) to be energized upon the sensing of 7, 4, or 1 holes in the related card columns of cards at the Secondary and Primary stations, respectively.

The secondary group of six coils P of the storage relays is connected at a common side to the anode of a tube VS. Similarly, the primary group of such coils is connected to the anode of a tube VP. The control grids of tubes VS and VP are coupled viaresistors r3 to plug sockets SJJ and PRJ, respectively. These sockets are plugged to chosen column sockets SJ and PJ. Assuming that scnsing conditions have been attained, the sensing of a hole in the chosen column of a card at the Primary or Secondary station will apply positive potential to the coupled grid of the tube VP or VS, respectively, rendering the tube conductive.

The sensing circuit at the Primary station may be completed during the third primary cycle. As previously described, the first card PC is fed through the Primary station during this cycle, and before the 9 index position, which is the leading position, reaches the sensing brushes PB, the relay RB (Fig. 3b) is energized. This relay remains Such potential will be energized while the index positions 9 to 0, X, and R are traversing the. brushes. Accordingly, if a perforation is sensed in one of these index positions, a sensing circuit is completed as follows (Fig. 3a)

Primary sensing circuit #1.From the v. side, throughcam contacts CRI 3, circuit breakers GB! or CB2, and CB3 or CB4, thence via wire w4, the now-shifted side of relay contacts RBB, the contact roll PC at the Primary station, a brush PB, a plug socket PJ, a plugwire to a socket PRJ, thence via the connected resistors r3 and rl to the 4.0 v. line.

The above circuit applies positive potential to the control grid of tube VP, overcoming its nega tive bias and rendering it conductive. At the time the perforation is sensed, one or a pair of the code conditioning relays (Fig. 3c) is in energized status, closing contacts (Fig. 361) for allowing circuits to be completed through one or a pair of the group of coils P of the primary storage relays. For instance, at the time the 9 index position is sensed, code conditioning relays 9543 and 9816 (Fig. 3c) are energized. These close their 2) contacts (Fig. 3a), switching the coils GP and 3P to the +110 v. side. If there is a perforation in the 9 index position of the chosen column of the card at the Primary station, tube VP is conductive at the time coils BP and 3P are switched to the +110 v. side. Accordingly, these coils are encrgized by the following circuit:

Pick-up circuit of storage relays (6P and 3P) From the +110 v. side, thence in parallel via contacts b of relays 9876 and 9543 through coils P of relays GP and 3P, and through tube VP to the common line side C.

During the second secondary cycle, the first card SC is fed through the Secondary sensing station, as previously described, and before the leading, 9 index position reaches the brushes SB, the relay R5 (Fig. 3b) is energized. It remains energized throughout the travel of index positions 9 to 0, X and R past the brushes SB. Contacts REA (Fig. 3a) close and connect the contact roll at the Secondary station to the 013s. Accordingly, if a hole is sensed in the chosen card column, the tube VS will be rendered conductive. At the same time, one or a pair of the coils P of the group of secondary storage relays will be connectcd to the +110 v. side by way of one or a pair of the contacts a of the code conditioning relays. Thereby, a circuit will be completed through one or a pair of the coils P of the storage relays in the secondary group. For instance, if a hole is sensed in the R position of the chosen column, coils P of relays XRS and HRS will be energized since contacts XPici and flRa are closed at this time.

When the coil P of a storage relay is energized, it closes relay contacts a (Fig. 30), allowing the hold coil H of the relay to be energized. For instance, if coil P of relay SP is energized, the coil H of this relay is energized by the following circuit:

Primary storage relay hold coil circuit-The l0 v. side, the coil H of relay 6P, the a contacts of this relay, and thence in parallel via primary clearing relay points DIA (now closed) and cam contacts CRI3, to the common line side C.

The coil H of a storage relay in the secondary roup is energized by a similar circuit except that it is completed to the line side C by way of parallel secondary clearing relay contacts 132A and cam contacts CRI I.

The energized coils H of the storage relays remain efiective until clearing relay contacts D2A and DIA and also cam contacts CI3 and CH break.

Modification of circuits for storage relays- This modification is shown in Fig. 39. It does not need code impulse or conditioning relays or storage relays with pick up and hold coils.

The modification uses a group of six gas-filled trigger tubes of the 2050 type or equivalent for each group of six storage relays. The storage relays of the primary group are connected to the anodes of the primary group of tubes and to the +110 v. side via parallel clearing relay contacts DIA and cam contacts CRI3 (compare the circuits oi the hold coils H of the primary group shown in Fig. 3c). The storage relays of the secondary group are connected to the anodes of the secondary group of tubes and to the +110 v. side via parallel contacts D2A and cam contacts CRI 4. The cathodes of all the tubes connect to the common line side C. The control grids of the primary group of tubes are connected to a common wire will which leads to the -40 v. side via a resistor fill and to the plug socket PRJ via a suitable current limiting resistor. The control grids of the secondary group of tubes are connected to a common wire wll which connects via a resistor rll to the 40 v. side and via a current limiting resistor to the socket SJJ. Sockets PRJ and SJ J may be plugged to chosen column sockets PJ and SJ (also see Fig. 3a) to receive sensing impulses. The shield grids, called simply shields, of each pair of like-numbered tubes of the two groups are connected via one of the group of six resistors r to the -40 v. side and also via one of the cam contacts CR2! to CR26 to the common line side C.

With the connections as shown, a tube will not fire unless its shield and control grids are simultaneously at increased potential. As long as either the shield or the control grid remains at substantially 40 v. potential with respect to the cathode, the tube will not fire. During a machine cycle, the cam contacts CR2 I, CR22, CR23, CR24, CR25, and CRZB close at the indicated times, raising the shield potential of the related tubes at these times. Should a sensing potential be applied to the control grid at the same time as the shield is raised in potential, the tube will fire, provided the anode circuit is in closed condition. Assuming this to be the case, the operation of the tubes is as follows:

Cam contacts CRZI close at the '7, 4, and l sensing times (also see Fig. 5), increasing the shield potential of tubes T6 and V6 of the primary and secondary group. Should a '7, 4, or 1 hole be sensed in the chosen column at the Primary station,-then the control grid of tube T6 of the primary group will be at high potential at the same time that the shield of this tube also is at high potential. Accordingly, tube T6 will fire, causing storage relay IP to be energized. Likewise, tube V6 of the secondary group will fire and relay IS be energized if a 7, 4, or 1 hole is sensed in the chosen column at the Secondary station. Neither of the tubes T6 or V6 can fire at any other times because the shield of the tube is then at low, blocking potential. Hence, although sensing potential may be applied to the control grid of a tube T6 or V6 at the 9 sensing time, for instance, as a result of the sensing of a 9 hole in the related card column, the tube will not fire because its shield is still at blocking potential at the 9 sensing time. In a similar 14 manner, the other tubes TI to T5 and VI to V5 are conditioned for operation at the times at which their related cam contacts close.

Since the modification does not require code impulse or conditioning relays and contacts, or pick up and hold coils for the storage relays, but depends on the high speed characteristics of the electronic tubes, the machine may operate at a faster speed when the modification is employed. That is, cards may be fed at a greatly increased rate, when the modification (Fig. 3g) is employed than when the main form of circuits (Figs. 3a and 3c) for the storage relays is employed.

'[Not only may a comparison be made between cards in the primary and secondary runs but also of successive cards in the primary run. The comparison between successive primary cards may be referred to as the sequence or primary run comparison. The sequence comparison requires the use of the Sequence station in addition to the Primary station. For purposes relating to this comparison, gas-filled trigger tubes of the 0A4G type are used in addition to other elements. A set of three tubes of the 0A4G type is required for each pair of card columns of the successive primary cards to be compared. One such set is shown in Fig. 3a, where the tubes are designated V93, V92, and Vi. The operation of these tubes will now be described.

The 0A4G tube operaiion.-The cathodes K of the tubes are connected to the common line side C. The anodes A are connected through work relays and cam contacts CRZU to the +110 v. side. The starter anodes A1 are connected through resistor-condenser couplings to the common side C. Each resistor-condenser coupling comprises a pair of resistors 1'4 and T5 and a condenser CIO shunting them. Suitable values for these elements are given in Fig. 3a. The junction point 500 of the resistors 14 and T5 is coupled to a sensing circuit and, when the sensing circuit is closed, approximately 110 volts positive potential is applied to the resistor-condenser coupling. The starter anode is thereby raised in potential sufficiently to trigger the tube. Condenser Clll serves to prolong the effect of the sensing pulse in order to assure sufiicient time for triggering the tube. When the tube is rendered conductive, a work circuit may be closed.

The junction point 500 of the resistors related to tube V93 is connected through normally closed relay contacts HEQb to a plug socket PPJ which may be plugged to a chosen socket PJ wired to a sensing brush at the Primary station. The junction point 500 relating to tube V92 is con= nected to the normally closed side of relay contacts HEPb, of which the normally open side is connected to the junction point 500 relating to tube V9. The common blade of contacts HEPb is connected by wires wt and to a plug socket QJJ which may be plugged to a chosen column socket QJ associated with the Sequence station.

Assume that sensing conditions have been established at both the Primary and the Sequence stations. Upon the sensing of a hole in a chosen column of the card at the Primary station, a circuit may be completed as follows:

Primary sensing circuit #2.From the v. side through CRI9, the CBS, wire w t, the shifted side of B6B, the contact roll PC, the chosen brush PB at the Primary station, a plug socket PJ, a plugwire to a plug socket PPJ, thence via contacts HEQb, and the resistor-condenser coupling associated with the starter anode of tube V93, to the common line side 0.

This circuit applies sufficient positive potential to the starter anode of tube V93 to fire the tube. The firing circuit is established only if contacts HEQb are still in closed status. If a perforation has been sensed previously, during the primary cycle, in the comparable card column at the Scquence station, then contacts I-IEQb will be open and prevent the closure of the above firing circuit.

Assume a perforation in the chosen column is sensed at the Sequence station. As a result, the following circuit may be completed:

The sequence sensing circuit #L-From the +110 v. side, via CRIB, the CBS, wire we, shifted contacts RlB, the contact roll QC, a chosen brush QB at the Sequence station, a plug socket QJ, a plugwire to a socket QJJ, Wires 1.05 and we to the common blade of contacts HEPb, thence via the normally closed side of these contacts, and the resistor-condenser coupling associated with the starter anode of tube V92, to the common side C.

The above circuit renders tube V92 conductive. It Will be noted that this circuit can be established only if contacts I-lEl-"b remain in normal status. This will be the case if the perforation in the card column at the Sequence station is sensed, during the primary cycle, before a perforation in the comparable column at the Primary station. If contacts HEP?) have shifted before the above circuit makes, then the sensing pulse coming from the Sequence station will be led to the junction point 590 relating to the tube V91, whereby this tube will be rendered conductive instead of tube V92.

The tubes V51], V92, and V93 will fire only if their anode circuits are closed. The anode circuit are closed only during the 9 to 1 sensing times of a cycle. This is because cam contacts CR2!) open just before the CBs effectively close for the sensing time (see Fig. 5). Thus, these tubes cannot become conductive and their work circuits cannot be established after the 1 sensing time. It is also understood by now that the perforations 9 to 1, 0, X and R. pass in the stated order through the sensing station. Thus, if a higher value numeric or intrazone perforation is sensed in the card at the Primary station then in the card at the Sequence station, the tube V93 will be rendered conductive first, and a Work circuit will be completed as follows (Fig. 3a)

The coil P(HEP) circuit-The +110 v. side, CRZG, coil P(HEP), and through tube Vd3, to the common side C.

Contacts a of the relay HEP (see Fig. 30) will close and the hold coil H of the relay will be energized subsequently by a circuit extending from the i0 v. side through coil H(HEP), contacts 0. of the relay, and cam contacts Pl to the common side C. Contacts P7 maintain the circuit closed into the next primary cycle (see Fig. 5).

When relay HEP is energized, it shifts contacts HEPb (Fig. 3a), so that upon the sensing of an intrazone perforation subsequently in the comparable column at the Sequence station, the tube V9! will be rendered conductive, and a work circuit will be completed through the coil P(LQ).

If the intrazone perforation in the chosen column at the Sequence station has a higher value than the perforation in the comparable column at the Primary station, the contacts HEPb will be in normal status at the time the perforation is sensed at the Sequence station. Hence, the tube V92 will be rendered conductive, and the work relay HEQ will be energized. Contacts HEQb will open, preventing the feeding of a subsequent i6 sensing impulse, coming from the Primary station, to the starter anode of tube Va'ifi. Accord-. ingly, this tube will remain non-conductive and relay HEP will not be energized.

If the intrazone perforations sensed at the Primary and Sequence stations are of equal value, then both tubes V83 and V32 will be rendered conductive simultaneously, and both relays HEP and I-IEQ will be energized.

While the tubes V93, V92, and V9! and the related circuits described above are sufncient for comparing numerical values, additional means must be provided to take care of alphabetic values and of the special dash symbol represented by an R perforation. The additional means includes a 25L6 tube designated V39 (Fig. 3a). The anode of this tube is connected to the common side of a pair of coils P of relays XRQ and ERQ. The coil PQIRQ) is connected at the X and R sensing times, by means of code impulse relay contacts XRc, to the v. side. Coil PWRQ) is connected at the 9 and R sensing times by code impulse relay contacts 6R0 to the +110 v. side. When a perforation is sensed in the chosen card column at the Sequence station, a sensing impulse is applied to the control grid of tube V39. The circuit for applying this impulse extends from the +110 v. side through the path traced in the sequence sensing circuit is! as far as wire 105. From Wire 205, the circuit continues through a resistor 1'3 to the control grid of tube V33. This impulse renders tube V39 momentarily conductive. If the perforation is an X perforation, then the relay coil P(XRQ) will be energized by a circuit extending through thenclosed contacts XRc and conductive tube V33. If the perforation is a 0 perforation, then coil PWRQ) is energized by way of contacts 5R0 and tube V39. If an R, perforation is sensed, then both coils P(0R.Q) and P(XRQ) are energized. Contacts 0. of relays XRQ and BBQ (see Fig. 3c) close when coils P of these relays are energized. Coils H of the relays are energized via the a relay contacts and cam contacts Pt.

To recapitulate, with respect to sequence of cards in the primary run, relay HEP (Fig. 3a) is energized if the intrazone value at the Primary station is higher than or equal to the comparative value at the Sequence station; relay HEQ is energized if the intrazone value atthe Sequence station is higher or equal; and relay LQ is energized if the intrazone value at the Sequence station is lower. Further, relays XRQ and ERQ (Fig. 3a) are energized selectively if the related card column at the Sequence station has a 0 or X perforation and both are energized if an R perforation is sensed. These various relays plus the XRP and GRP relays, which are energized according to Whether the chosen column at the Primary station has a 0, X, or R perforation, enter into the selection of comparison relays indicative of the relationship in magnitude of data sensed at the two stations in the primary side. In addition, the selection of the comparison relays depends on so-called blank and zero correction relays which will be explained later.

With respect to the sensing at the Primary and Secondary stations, the relays XRP, GRP, 6P, 3P, 2P, and IP (Fig. 3a) of the primary group and the corresponding relays of the secondary group are selectively energized according to the zone and intrazone perforations sensed in compared fields of cards at the Primary and Secondary stations. These relays plus blank and zero correction relays control the selection of relays in- 17 dicative of the value relationship of data sensed in cards of the primary and secondary runs.

The circuit network for selecting relays indicative of the relationship of compared values in cards of the primary run is shown in Fig. 3d. The circuit network relating to the compared values in cards of both runs; primary and secondary, is shown in Fig. 3e. Before explaining these networks, the blank and zero correction relays will be explained.

5.'Blanlc and zero correction means The purpose of' the blank and zero correction means is to supplement the other relays, previously. mentioned as controlled by the sensing of designations at the three stations, in determining the relationshi of the compared values in accordance with the prescribed value scale given in Section 1. 'To repeat, in this scale, the values, in ascending relation, are: blank, dash (Rhole),A,B,C...X,Y,Z,0,1...8,9.

The storage relays HEP, LQ, HEQ, XRQ, URQ, XRP, ORP, 6P, 3P, 2P, IP, XRS, ORS, 6S, 3S, 2S, and IS (Figs. 3a and 3c) take care of the required scale of magnitude under all but two spe-.

cial conditions: (A), blank in one compared column and 0. or the dash symbol (R hole) or any alphabetic character in the compared column; (B) whose designation includes a 0 hole in the compared column. To take care of these two conditions, the blank and zero relays are used to supplement the other relays. It is understood that there is a set of the storage relays and of the blank and zero correction relays for each denominational order of card data to be compared.

The circuits for the highest order of blank and zero correction relays are shown in Fig. 3c. The circuits for all the orders of such relays are routed via cam contacts CRI'I, which close after the last index position sensing time in a cycle; namely, after the R sensing time, and also are routed via start interlock relay contacts D3BL which are in closed status if starting conditions have been attained.

There are four blank and zero correction relays for each compared order. These are designated QBZ, PQZ, PBR, and SEE. The conditions under which these relays may be energized after a sensing period are given below.

1. If the chosen column of the card sensed at the Sequence station is blank, then relay QBZ is energized by the following circuit (Fig. 3e)

The QBZ circuit #1.From the 40 v. side through QBZ, and contacts llRQb, XRQb, HEQb, LQb, D3BL, and CRI'I to the common line Side C.

2.11 the column sensed at the Sequence station has any designation including an R or 0 perforation, and the corresponding column at the Primary station has only a 0 perforation, then relays ORQ and ORP, (Figs. 3a and 30) along with possibly the relay XRQ and/or relay HEQ, are in energized status, whereby the following circuit may make through relay QBZ:

The QBZ circuit #2.From the 40 v. side, through QBZ, now-closed contacts ORQc, the shiftedcontacts ORPb, and then via XRPb, 6P1), 3Pb, 2Pb,' lPb, D3BL and CRI'I, to side 0.

3. If the column at the Sequence station has only a 0 perforation and the corresponding column at the Primary station has any designation including an R or 0 perforation, then the relays IIRQ and ORP, along with possibly one of the other primary storage relays, are in energized status, Sothat'the following circuit is able to make through a relayPQZ:

:The' PQZ circuit #1.The --40 v. side through PQZ, contacts (1 (now-closed) of relay ORP, the now-shifted contacts ORQb, and via XRQb, HEQb, LQb, DSBL, and CRIT, to side C.

It should be noted that if both the sequence and primary columns contain merely the zero designations, then both the Q32 circuit #2 and the PQZ circuit #1 make, whereby both relays QBZ and PBZ are energized.

4. If the column at the Primary station is blank, then the following circuit may make through the relay PQZ:

PQZ circuit #2. From the 40 v. side, through PQZ, contacts 0 of relay DRP, thence via contacts 1) of this relay and via XRPb, BPb, 3Pb, 2Pb, lPb, D3BL, and CR", to side C.

A circuit also makes, when the column at the Primary station is blank, through a relay PBR, as follows:

PBR circuit #1.The -40 v. side through PBR, directly to contacts b of relay llRPb and thence as in the preceding circuit to side C.

5. If the column at the Primary station has any designation including an R or 0 perforation and the corresponding column at the Secondary station has only a 0 perforation, then relays DRP and ORS, along with possibly one of the other primary storage relays, are in energized status, whereby a circuit may make through relay PBR as follows:

PBR circuit #2.-The 40 v. side, through PBR, the shifted contacts 0 of relay ORP, the shifted contacts b" of relay (IRS, and thence via XRSb, 65b, 35b, 2Sb, lSb, D3BL, and CRH to side 0.

6. If the column at the Secondary station is blank, a relay SBR may be energized as follows:

SBR circuit #1.The 40 v. side, through SBR, ORSb, XRSb, 68b, 3S2), 28b, lSb, D3BL, and CR! 1 to side C.

'7. If the column at the Secondary station has any designation including a 0 or R perforation and the corresponding column at the Primary station has only a 0 perforation, then relays ORP and (IRS, along with possibly one of the other secondary storage relays, are in energized status, so that relay SBR may be energized as follows:

SBR Circuit #2. The 40 cv. side, through SBR, contacts URSc, ORPb, XRPb, 6Pb 3P1), 2P1), lPb, DSBL, and CR, to the side C.

If the primary and secondary columns both contain only zeros, then the PBR circuit #2 and the SRB circuit #2 both make, whereby relays PBR-and SBR both are energized.

It should be noted that the chosen column sockets PJ (Fig. lie) at the Primary station should be plugged to like-numbered sockets PRJ and PPJ, and that corresponding column sockets QJ at the Sequence station should be plugged to the same numbered sockets QJJ as the plugged-in sockets PRJ and PPJ in order that the correlated orders of storage relays and blank and zero correction relays required for sequence control should be energized. The columns to be sensed at the Primary station for sequence control are not necessarily the ones to be compared with the chosen columns at the Secondary station, but to simplify the drawings, the same primary columns are shown plugged up for sequence control as for dual run control. For the sake of simplicity, only the control and comparing means related to one order are shown. Referring to Fig. 3a, column 8 brush socket SJ is plugged to the socket SJJ-l; column 12 brush socket PJ is plu ed not only to socketPRJ-I but also to socket PPJ-l;

andcolumn 12 brush socket QJ is plugged to socket QJJ-l. This indicates that a field of columns of cards in the primary run whose highest order column is number 12 is to be used for sequence control and that a field of columns of cards in the primary run, also beginning with column 12, is to be compared with a corresponding field of columns of cards in the secondary run, beginning with column 8, for dual run selection control.

It will be noted that each of the blank and zero correction relays QBR, PQZ, PBR, and SBR (Fig. 3e) is energized by either of two circuits.

Relay QBZ is energized under conditions 1 or 2; i. e., if the column sensed at the Sequence station is blank, or if it bears any designation including the or R perforation while the column sensed at the Primary station contained only a 0 perforation.

Relay PQZ is energized under conditions 3 and l; i. e., if the column sensed at the Sequence station has only a O designation while the column sensed at the Primary station has any designation including the 0 or R perforation, or if the column sensed at thePrimary station is blank.

Relay PBR is energized under conditions 4 and 5; i. e., if the column sensed at the Primary station was blank, or if it had any designation including a 0 or R perforation while the column sensed at the Secondary station had only a 0 perforation.

Relay SBR is energized under conditions 6 and 7; i. e., if the column sensed at the Secondary station is blank, or if it has any designation including a 0 or R perforation while the column sensed at the Primary station has only a 0 perforation.

It will be noted that, with respect to sequence control; 1. e., control by successive cards in the primary run, the complementary conditions are 1 and 4, and 2 and 3, and cover all possible blank and zero conditions in the control card columns passed through the Sequence and Primary stations during a cycle. Relays QBZ and PQZ relate only to the sequence control and their contacts are to be found only in the primary run selection circuits (see Fig. 3d)

With regardto dual run control; 1. e., control by cards run through thePrimary and Secondary stations, conditions 4 and 6, and 5 and '7, are complementary, and cover all possible blank and zero conditions in chosen control columns of these cards. Relay PBR and SBR relate only to the dual run control and their contacts are to be found only in the dual run selection circuits (Fig. 3c).

The primary run selection circuits will be explained now.

6. The primary run selection circuits (Fig. 3d)

These circuits operate selectively according to the relative magnitude of values in chosen sequence control card fields sensed at the Sequence and Primary stations during a cycle. It may be well to repeat here the prescribed scale of magnitude. This scale, in ascending order, is: blank, dash (R hole), A to Z, and 0 to 9. Each order of the selection circuits has three comparative value paths along which applied potential may be transmitted. There is an intermediate path which corresponds to an equal magnitude condition in the order, an upper path which corresponds to a superiority in magnitude of the value sensed at the Sequence station, and there is a lower path which corresponds to an intern ority in magnitude of the value sensed at the Sequence station. The potential is applied to an incoming portion of the intermediate or equality path. It is then directed by relay contacts selectively to the superior or upper path, the equality path, or the inferiority or lower path depending on the relation of the values in the order. Each order is alike. Obviously, the value relation in a higher order dominates the value relation in the lower order. Hence, potentialwill be applied to the highest order of these circuits. The highest order, if the values therein are equal, will transmit the potential to the incoming equality line of the next lower order, and so on to the lowest order. But if any order receiving potential on the equality line manifests superiority of the value sensed at the Sequence station, the potential will be directed to the upper line U of this order and thence directly to an electronic tube. If the reverse value relation is true, then the potential will be directed to a lower line L and thence transmitted directly to an electronic tube. It follows that the upper lines U of all the orders are connected and in fact are portions Of a single upper line and that the lower lines L of all the orders are similarly connected. Briefly, then, if in any higher order, a value sensed at the Sequence station is higher, the relation of values in the lower orders does not matter since the control data as a whole are then higher at the Sequence station. Similarly if the sequence value is inferior in a higher order the relation of values in the lower orders does not matter. When the values in all the orders are equal, the potential is transmitted through all the denominationally ordered circuits to an electronic tube. The pro vision of the electronic tubes in the outputs of the comparing circuits enables a greater number of denominationally ordered circuits to be used in the comparing network. In the present case, as many as nineteen such denominationally ordered circuits may be arranged in tandem.

The cumulative resistance of all the denomi-.-

nationally ordered circuits is small compared to the value of grid resistance rl (see Fig. 30). Hence, the drop in potential across all or any number of the denominationally ordered circuits is small compared to the resistance of TI, whereby the potential applied to the grid of a tube will not vary materially with the number of circuits through which the potential is transmitted and, therefore, the tube will have a rapid, sensitive and substantially constant response to the output potential of the comparing circuits. If relay windings were to be used in place of the tubes. their resistance, individually, would be in far smaller proportion to the cumulative resistance of the denominationally ordered comparing circuits than the proportion of resistance Rl to the cumulative resistance of the circuits. Hence, variations in the number of circuits through which potential would be transmitted to the relay windings would have a substantial effect on the operation of the relays. This would limit the number of denominations to be compared and also would limit the speed of operation of the machine. The provision of the electronic tubes in the comparing network of the present case thus permits the number of denominations to be compared and the speed of the machine to be increased.

Fig. 3d shows the highest order of primary run selection circuits in detail. All the other orders are of the same nature and construction.

Aitersensinghas been completed in a cycle and after'the blank and zero correction relays have been given time to operate, cam contacts CRIB close (see also Fig. These contacts connect the +110 v. side to a group of sockets COJ (see also Fig. 3e). One of these sockets appears in Fig. 3d. When sequence control is desired, this socket is plugged to a socket PQJ which is connected by start interlockrelay contacts D4BL to the incoming line E for the highest order of selection circuits. The description below refers, except when otherwise noted, to this highest order. For convenience, the value or designation or column, when sensed at the Sequence station will be referred to as the Sequence value or designation or column and'when sensed at the Primary station will be referred to as the primary value or designation or column. a

The incoming potential, on wire E, is directed first to relay contacts PQZa. I

As explained in Section 5, the relay PQZ (Fig. 3e) is energized if the Primary station column is blank (condition 4), or if it has a designation which includes a 0 or R hole while the Sequence station columnhas a 0 hole alone (condition 3). Should either of these conditions exist, then the Primary station value is no higher than the Sequence station value, but it may be equal. The

potential transmitted to contacts PQZa is passed thereby to contacts of relay QBZ.

Relay QBZ (Fig. 3e) is energized if the Sequence station column is blank (condition 1), or it it has a0 or R hole while the Primary station column has a Oholealone (condition 2). Thus, relay QBZ may be energized only if the Sequence station value is no higher than-the Primary station value, but it may be equal.

Conditions 1 and 4 may be coexistent (both compared column blank). Conditions 2 and 3 may be coexistent (both compared columns containing only the 0 holes). But conditions 1 and 2, 1 and 3, and 2 and 4 are-mutually exclusive.

Example 1.-Assume, for instance, that conditions '1 and 4 exist. This indicates blank compared columns, an equal relation. Relays PQZ and QBZ are in energized status. The potential on line E (Fig. 301) is transmitted by shifted contacts PQZa and QBZa to the intermediate, equality path. Since both compared columns are blank, the XRP, XRQ, DRP, ORQ, HEQ and HEP relays (see Figs. 3a and 3c) are inunenergized status. Accordingly, the potential is transmitted from the'shifted contacts QBZa to the normal side of contacts XRPc, thence via the normal sides of contacts ImQc,-0RPe, DRQd, HEQc, and HEPd to the equality, outgoing line El which leads to the contacts of the next lower order (not shown). The further path of the potential will depend on the relation of the values in the lower orders. 1 I

Example 2.-Assume that conditions 2 and 3 exist; that is, that there are I! perforations only in the compared columns, also an equal relation. The same result is obtained as in Example 1, but the path oi potential is different. 'In this case, relays PQZand QBZ' and relays DRP and ORQ are all in energized status. The potential on wire Etherefore is fed by the shifted contacts PQZa and QBZa, the normal contacts XRPc and XRQc, the shifted contacts llRPe and llRQd, and the normal contacts HEQc and I-IEPd, to outgoing equality line El. It is seen that if the corresponding primary and sequence relays; for example,

ORP andfllRQ, are inthe same status, whether energized or deenergized, their contacts lead the applied potential to a portion of the equality path-.1 Example 3.Assume that condition ,1 exists (blank Sequence column) and that the other conditions 2, 3, and 4 are absent. Accordingly, the

sequence value as a whole is lower than the primary value, since the highest order Sequence, column is blank and the comparative column is not blank. Relay PQZ remains unenergized. Relay QBZ is in energized status. The potential; on wire E is transmitted by the normal side of contacts PQZa to the shifted contacts QBZb which direct the potential to the lower line L. The potential on this line is transmitted directly, to the control grid of a 25L6 tube V80. This tube, thereupon is rendered conductive, allowing the coil P of the sequence control comparison relay QL to be energized.

Example 4.Assume that condition 2 exists;

alone; that is, that the sequence column bears" an alphabetic designation of which the 0 or R hole is a part or bears the dash designation ,(R hole alone) While the primary value is zero.

Since the highest order is being considered and since, in the prescribed scale of values, an alphabetic character or the dash symbol is lower than 1 the zero character, the potential on wire E should be directed to the lower line L and thence to tube. V80, whereby coil P(QL) will be energized. When condition 2 exists alone, relay PQZ is not energized but relay QBZ is energized. This-is the sam as in Example 3. 1 Example 5.--Assume that condition 3 exists alone; that is, that the sequence value is zero,

while the primary value bears an alphabetic designation including the 0 or R hole or bears the dash symbol designation, the R hole. Therefore,

the sequence value as a whole is higher than the primary value, since the highest compared orders are being considered. The relay PQZ is ener-' ,gized, while the relay QBZ is not energized.

Hence, the potential on wire E is fed via the shifted contacts PQZa and the normal side of contacts QBZa to the upper line U. The potential is transmitted by this line to the control grid of a tube V18, rendering it conductive, whereby coil P of the relay QH is energized.

Example 6.-Assume that condition 4 alone exists; that is, the primary column-is blank while'" the sequence column is not blank. Therefore, the sequence value is higher. Under this condition, relay PQZ is energized, but relay QBZ is not energized. This is the same as Example 5.

If none of the conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 exist, then neither of the compared columns is blank. 7 Further, neither of these columns bears the zero value at the same time that the comparative value has a designation including the 0 or R hole.]

The value relationship then depends on the other items which may be designated in the compared columns. This situation will now be discussed" in various aspects. In this situation, neither relay PQZ nor QBZ is energized. The potential on-wire;

E therefore is transmitted by the normal sides If the primary designation includes 

